Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-05-06
COTTON CONGRESS-.
The Door of ODD Fellows Hall Locked
Against Them by the Janitor.

The Door OF Od0 Fellows Hail Locked
Against Them by the Janitor.
Special to the Gazette.
WACO, TEX, May 5.-When the cotton
congress assembled this morning, it was
found that the door of the Odd Fellows
hall was closed, and it was some time
before it was opened, but finally an en-
trance was affected and the meeting was
called to order by the chairman, Mr.
Collins. Some of the members took
umbrage at the door being closed
against them, and it was rumored on the
streets that3the body intended to adjourn
to Fort Worth and finish the business
that called them together. About this
time committee # the citizens of
Waco assembled in Colonel R. B Parrott's
office for the purpose Of extending to the
cotton congress a hearty welcome to
Waco, and show them all the courtesies
that could be shown by any city.
Among the gentlemen who were present
were Mayor Sturgis, W. B. Morrison, W {.
D. Lacy, r. B. Parrott, Ed Rotan, VIM.
Ragland, Jno T. Walton, W. w. SeleY,
S. L Norwood, F. o. Rogers, J. W. Cas-
ties, w. w. Dexter, S. Sanger, j. W.
Mann, W. N. Grand, J. D. Morrow, j. D.
Bell, Jno. F. Marshall, j. |. Moore, VIM.
Lsmdin, W. S. Blackshear, j. c.. King,
James E Elgen and others. It hav-
ing been stated in the. hall that the citi
zens' committee desired to confer with
the congress, the following committee
was appointed to meet with them. j. X.
?. Hanna of Robertson, A. L. Kessler of
Comal, G B. Pickett of Wise, J. T. Hair
ston of Washington and j W. Sigleton.
When the two committees met
it was then learned that the
door of the Odd Fellows hall had
been closed against the congress and
the two committees then agreed to ad
iourn to the hall where the congress was
in session, where they all could confer
together about the matter. Mayor Sur
gis was introduced to the emblage,
and made one of the happiest efforts of
his life. He told the audience that they
should not hold the city of Waco
to blame for any thing that one
man did. 1t was the intention of the
citizens of Waco to open their doors and
welcome the delegates to the cotton con-
gress, and not give them the slightest
cause for complaint.
Finally, after other citizens had made
talks to the body, there was a mutual un-
derstanding between the congress and
the citizens, and everything moved along
smoothly again.
The doors of the Odd Fellows hall
were licked by the. janitor on his own
accord, and the citizens of Waco knew
nothing about 1t. 1t is regretted by all
that such thing should happen, but now
it has been settled and a good feeling
exists all around.
The morning hours were spent In wait
ing for report from the committee of
eleven, who had not come to any definite
understanding when the noon hour ar
rived.
The citizens committee told the con-
gress they wanted to hear from them any
proposition they proposed to make and
they would meet them half way.
At the evening session of the cotton
congress no business of any Importance
was transacted. The full delegation met
at their hall and listened to brief speeches
made by some of the prominent members
of their body. The committee on plans
made a report, but it was rejected, and
they were instructed to form a second
report and summit 1t tonight. The con-
gress then adjourned to meet at O'Clock
tonight.
The cotton congress convened at 8 !
O'Clock tonight for the purpose of re-
celving the report OF the committee on |
plans. The committee failed to report |
and the Congress adjourned to meet to-
morning at O'Clock.